What have you been reading, hearing or TV viewing that has provoked some feelings of comfort or concern about what is happening in the world of medicine, medical care, treatment or science? Ethics is all about doing the right thing. Are you aware of any issues in medicine or biologic science which are being done right, could be improved or in fact represent totally unethical behavior?
Write about them here.. and I will too! ..Maurice (DoktorMo@aol.com)

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Monday, April 02, 2012

Doctors "Should Do No Harm" but How About Carrying a Gun?

Is there any profession which is so dedicated to non-violence and "to do no harm" to others and particularly to those they serve? I am thinking about a priest or reverend or rabbi or others supporting their God. I am also thinking about a physician. I found an interesting website (Brainblogger) and article regarding doctors and their access to guns either within or outside their office. There are also present a number of visitor comments and it seems that the majority find acceptance with regard to doctors having guns for self-protection and protection of their offices.

But, what about the professional ethics of carrying a gun with the intent to shoot and most likely kill someone as a response to a threat to ones own life? Should doctors have some higher duty "to do no harm" if such harm could be prevented by not having a gun readily available? ..Maurice.

p.s. On the other hand. Here is another view of doctors and guns which has been seen on various websites but I don't vouch for all the statistics presented. However, I guess there are different ways of looking at the doctors and guns issue.

Doctors(A) The number of physicians in the U.S. is 700,000.

(B) Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year are 120,000..(C) Accidental deaths per physician is 0.171 (17%).Statistics courtesy of U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services.

Now think about this:Guns(A) The number of gun owners in the U.S. is 80,000,000. (Yes, that's 80 million !)(B) The number of accidental gun deaths per year, all age groups, is 1,500.(C) The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is .0000188 (.00188%)Statistics courtesy of the F.B.I.So, statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners.Remember, 'Guns don't kill people, doctors do.'FACT: NOT EVERYONE HAS A GUN, BUT ALMOST EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST ONE DOCTOR.Please alert your friends to this alarming threat. We must ban doctors before this gets completely out of hand!!!!!

P.S. - Out of concern for the public at large, I have withheld the statistics on lawyers for fear the shock would cause people to panic and seek medical attention.

I interpret "do no harm" as applying to the medical care provided by doctors.For all else, I consider doctors just people the same as everyone else. Not better, not worse. So I have no problem at all with a doctor (legally) carrying a gun.TAM

TAM, do you think that a physician's moral, ethical professional responsibility of "do no harm" ends the moment there is no patient for the physician to attend? Here is the general question: Are we doctors only when we are "doctoring"? ..Maurice.

Yes, that is what I do think. It is a profession, with a lot of responsibility and must be held to high standards.But when you're not working, you have all the rights of everyone else, and like everyone else - you're off duty.I suppose, like some professions (such as a law enforcement officer), if a doctor commits serious crimes or very unethical behavior, they might face consequenses, and they might not be trusted to have that profession.But basically - if a doctor is not working, to me, they have equal rights and responsibilities as anyone else - not less and not more.TAM

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